Paragraph one:
Paragraph 1:
Representations today
· Newspaper articles. Lack of positive role models and fathers.
‘by other trends within black communities, such as lack of father involvement and the lack of positive role models, and the presence of powerful alternative negative role models in media and popular culture".
· Gangs/ going to prison.
· Films coach carter in particular reference to the character cruz. Look at the mis- en scene.
· Coach carter as an educational role model.
More recently teen movies which cover issues dealing with black youth tend to make flawed stereotypes. Yet you can say that these films tackling issues to do with black youth are only portraying the youth in how they shown in the media through these stereotypes. They reinforce these representations to an extent. An increasing theme which tends to run in films to do with black youth culture is the absence of a father figure or a positive role model. ‘by other trends within black communities, such as lack of father involvement and the lack of positive role models, and the presence of powerful alternative negative role models in media and popular culture….warns that boys and young men who lack the involvement of a father in their lives can develop "father hunger" - a trauma that leaves them vulnerable to peer pressure and involvement in gang culture.” (3) This quote states that if there is no involvement of a father for the young men then they are more likely to be pressured towards crime. This theme is shown in Coach Carter as a lot of the boys don’t have a father figure, if we look at Timo Cruz a character who has been brought up too fight in gang wars through his uncle who is a well known gang leader in the neighbourhood who has no role model till he meets his basketball coach, however if we look at Tre in Boyz n the Hood he has been brought up in a crime-ridden South Central Los Angeles, California, with his father Jason "Furious" Styles. Furious instructs Tre on his household responsibilities. Although these tasks seem unfair and harsh to Tre, Furious explains that learning responsibility will make Tre a man and keep him from ending up dead or in jail.
(3) http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,,2103754,00.html
Wednesday 9 January 2008
Introduction:
In the government’s efforts to prevent young black people from entering the criminal justice system, it recognises that preventing criminalisation lies in social justice and not criminal justice. By focusing on issues like drugs, poverty and the lack of positive role models, these social issues have fallen harshly on the black youths of today. Our contemporary society has portrayed today’s black youth as a corrupt group of minorities.
The media’s part in this representation has caused a moral panic where black youths are seen today as troublemakers. ‘8% of young black people arrested were remanded in custody, compared with 4% of young white people. Overall, black people are five times more likely to be jailed.’(1) According to Timothy Shary, recent films have concentrated on serious youth issues like never before. “Coach Carter,” “Mysterious Skin” and “The Ballad of Jack and Rose,” all released in 2005, tackled such topics as the value of education among athletes. “These are films that show young people confronting issues about race, religion, body image, romance, drugs, parents, friends, sex, sexual preference and crime, and they explore these issues with a mature attitude while still allowing their characters to explore their youth,” (2) However it is important to take in consideration the accuracy of these representations.
(1) http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,,2103754,00.html
(2) ‘Teen movies: American youth on screen by Timothy Shary
In the government’s efforts to prevent young black people from entering the criminal justice system, it recognises that preventing criminalisation lies in social justice and not criminal justice. By focusing on issues like drugs, poverty and the lack of positive role models, these social issues have fallen harshly on the black youths of today. Our contemporary society has portrayed today’s black youth as a corrupt group of minorities.
The media’s part in this representation has caused a moral panic where black youths are seen today as troublemakers. ‘8% of young black people arrested were remanded in custody, compared with 4% of young white people. Overall, black people are five times more likely to be jailed.’(1) According to Timothy Shary, recent films have concentrated on serious youth issues like never before. “Coach Carter,” “Mysterious Skin” and “The Ballad of Jack and Rose,” all released in 2005, tackled such topics as the value of education among athletes. “These are films that show young people confronting issues about race, religion, body image, romance, drugs, parents, friends, sex, sexual preference and crime, and they explore these issues with a mature attitude while still allowing their characters to explore their youth,” (2) However it is important to take in consideration the accuracy of these representations.
(1) http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,,2103754,00.html
(2) ‘Teen movies: American youth on screen by Timothy Shary
‘The best examples for disaffected black youngsters are other black people who have made their way in society because they have a far better understanding of the pressures in these communities." How are black youths represented today and are these representations accurate? with specific reference to Coach Carter.
How are black youths represented today & are these representations accurate? Making particular reference to Coach Carter.
(keywords- representation, today and accurate)
Intro- mention today’ society- ASBO’s
· Newspaper stories- ‘lack of leadership’ young black teens needed positive support
· Synopsis.
Paragraph 1:
Representations today
· Newspaper articles. Lack of positive role models and fathers.
‘by other trends within black communities, such as lack of father involvement and the lack of positive role models, and the presence of powerful alternative negative role models in media and popular culture".
· Gangs/ going to prison.
· Films coach carter in particular reference to the character cruz. Look at the mis- en scene.
· Coach carter as an educational role model.
Paragraph 2:
Historical representations
· Intro to boyz n the hood.
· Quotes.
· Comparison to coach carter and furious styles.
· Teen movies: American youth on screen by timothy shary.
· Refer to second historical text ‘menace in society’
Caine: My father sold dope and my mother was a heroin addict. Moms and Pops were real popular in the neighborhood. They would always be giving parties for friends of theirs who just got out of jail or was on their way to jail. They only got married 'cause I was born. My pop sometimes worked as an electrician or a cab driver or a plumber, but his main job was selling drugs. Sometimes Mom would use 'em all up before he could even sell 'em. Then he'd have to beat her up. Growing up with parents like that, I heard a lot and I saw a lot. I caught on to the criminal life real quick. Instead of keeping me out of trouble, they turned me on to it.
Paragraph 3:
Change how & why.
· Clark University professor Timothy Shary has published a book about teen movies. the book is called 'teen movies: american youth on screen.According to Shary, recent films have addressed serious youth issues like never before - a trend he hopes will continue. “Coach Carter,” “Mysterious Skin” and “The Ballad of Jack and Rose,” all released in 2005, tackled such topics as the value of education among athletes,“These are films that show young people confronting issues about race, religion, body image, romance, drugs, parents, friends, sex, sexual preference and crime, and they explore these issues with a mature attitude while still allowing their characters to explore their youth,”
·Sir Trevor MacDonald- contradict article about the lack of role models in the media.
Paragraph 4:
So are these representations accurate?
· Stan Cohen was the first theorist to address this prejudice towards the teen, his study of the Mods and Rockers in the 1960’s, led to the infamous ‘Folk Devils and Morale Panic’ theory. Cohen believed that young teens were presented in an unfair, negative way, and he perceived this societal indifference towards the teen and the government’s failure at controlling them, as "a condition, episode, person or group of persons [who] become defined as a threat to societal values and interests."
Paragraph 5:
Conclusion
How are black youths represented today & are these representations accurate? Making particular reference to Coach Carter.
(keywords- representation, today and accurate)
Intro- mention today’ society- ASBO’s
· Newspaper stories- ‘lack of leadership’ young black teens needed positive support
· Synopsis.
Paragraph 1:
Representations today
· Newspaper articles. Lack of positive role models and fathers.
‘by other trends within black communities, such as lack of father involvement and the lack of positive role models, and the presence of powerful alternative negative role models in media and popular culture".
· Gangs/ going to prison.
· Films coach carter in particular reference to the character cruz. Look at the mis- en scene.
· Coach carter as an educational role model.
Paragraph 2:
Historical representations
· Intro to boyz n the hood.
· Quotes.
· Comparison to coach carter and furious styles.
· Teen movies: American youth on screen by timothy shary.
· Refer to second historical text ‘menace in society’
Caine: My father sold dope and my mother was a heroin addict. Moms and Pops were real popular in the neighborhood. They would always be giving parties for friends of theirs who just got out of jail or was on their way to jail. They only got married 'cause I was born. My pop sometimes worked as an electrician or a cab driver or a plumber, but his main job was selling drugs. Sometimes Mom would use 'em all up before he could even sell 'em. Then he'd have to beat her up. Growing up with parents like that, I heard a lot and I saw a lot. I caught on to the criminal life real quick. Instead of keeping me out of trouble, they turned me on to it.
Paragraph 3:
Change how & why.
· Clark University professor Timothy Shary has published a book about teen movies. the book is called 'teen movies: american youth on screen.According to Shary, recent films have addressed serious youth issues like never before - a trend he hopes will continue. “Coach Carter,” “Mysterious Skin” and “The Ballad of Jack and Rose,” all released in 2005, tackled such topics as the value of education among athletes,“These are films that show young people confronting issues about race, religion, body image, romance, drugs, parents, friends, sex, sexual preference and crime, and they explore these issues with a mature attitude while still allowing their characters to explore their youth,”
·Sir Trevor MacDonald- contradict article about the lack of role models in the media.
Paragraph 4:
So are these representations accurate?
· Stan Cohen was the first theorist to address this prejudice towards the teen, his study of the Mods and Rockers in the 1960’s, led to the infamous ‘Folk Devils and Morale Panic’ theory. Cohen believed that young teens were presented in an unfair, negative way, and he perceived this societal indifference towards the teen and the government’s failure at controlling them, as "a condition, episode, person or group of persons [who] become defined as a threat to societal values and interests."
Paragraph 5:
Conclusion
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